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X Games: McCann takes gold, but concerns lie with Kagy

July 28, 2011 | 8:38
pm

The last and winning run in the BMX Big Air competition may have been only the third most dramatic Thursday night.

Last year’s silver medalist, Steve McCann, landed a double front flip followed by a double tailwhip in his final run to raise his high score to a 91.6 and claim the gold medal. Fellow Australian Vince Byron took second even though he broke his handlebars after his second run.

Two-time defending gold medalist Chad Kagy finished third, but after the competition, nobody was celebrating his bronze medal. On his third run, Kagy fell from about 45 feet in the air. His feet touched the deck first but the rest of the Gilroy native soon followed. Kagy’s head snapped against the ramp very hard, and once he had finished sliding, he waved the medical team over.

Five minutes later, helmet and neck brace removed, Kagy was carried out on a stretcher. He appeared to be conscious and moving his hands.

Kagy had landed a double backflip before attempting a high jump on the subsequent quarterpipe. On his second run, Kagy over-rotated on the same backflip attempt, crashing to the deck.